simplicity itself
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
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simpson
Water used in the dilution of milk. Term in use among cow-keepers. From this the parish pump has been called Mrs. SIMPSON.
sin tax
a tax on activities considered sinful or unhealthy
sinbad made his escape
Hence the phrase is figuratively applied to bad habits, evil associates, etc., from which it is very difficult to free oneself.
Sinbad the Sailor
The hero of a story of this name in the Arabian Nights
sine die
No time being fixed; indefinitely in regard to time. When a proposal is deferred sine die, it is deferred without fixing a day for its reconsideration, which is virtually "for ever.
sine qua non
An indispensable condition. Lat. Sine qua non potest esse or fieri (that without which [the thing] cannot be, or be done).
Sinews of War
Essential funds for the prosecu- tion of a war. Troops have to be paid and fed and the materials of war are costly.
sing along
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
sing for one's supper
to perform a task in order to receive payment or reward
sing from the same hymnbook
To express the same opinion or idea
sing like a bird
To confess or reveal information willingly
sing off the same hymn sheet
To express the same opinions or ideas
sing small
to speak or sing softly
sing soprano
to speak in a high-pitched voice, often due to fear or pain
sing the praises of
To enthusiastically express admiration or approval
sing the same tune
To say or do the same thing as someone else
sing-song
A harmonic meeting at a pot-house, a free-and-easy.
singe one's wings
to suffer or be harmed as a result of one's actions
singing soprano
speaking in a high-pitched voice, often due to fear or intimidation
single out
To choose or notice someone or something from a group
single peeper
A person having but one eye.
Single Tax
The doctrine that land rent alone should be subject to taxation, propounded by Henry George in Progress and Poverty (1879).
singleton
A very foolish fellow; also a particular kind of nails.
sinhound
A priest.
sink in
To be fully understood or appreciated after a period of time
sink of iniquity
A place where immoral or wicked activities are concentrated
sink or swim
No matter what happens. Convicted witches were thrown into the water to "sink or swim"; if they sank they were drowned ; if they swam it was clear proof they were in league with the Evil One; so it did not much matter, one way or the other.
sinkers
Bad money,—affording a man but little assistance in "keeping afloat."
sinking ship
A failing organization or situation
sinks
A throw of fives at dice. French, CINQ.
Sinn Fein
Irish for "Ourselves alone" This was the Nationalist movement that finally brought about the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1921. The rebellion of 1916 was its first overt act of great im- portance; in the following year Eamonn de Valera was elected president of the movement and the new republican policy was inaugur- ated.
Sir Bevis of Hamtown
A mediaeval chivalric romance, slightly connected with the Charlemagne cycle, which (in the English version) tells how the father of Bevis was slam by the mother, and how, on Bevis trying to avenge the murder, she sold him into slavery to Eastern merchants. After many adven- tures he converts and carries off Josian, daughter of the Soldan, returns to England, gets his revenge, and all ends happily.
Sir Brain
The bear in the famous German beast-epic, Reynard the Fox.
Sir Epicure Mammon
A worldly sensualist in Ben Jonson's Alchemist.
Sir Hugh Caverley
Famous for ridding Poland of a monstrous bear. Sir Henry Maleyerer, generally called Henry of Cornhill, who lived in the reign of Henry IV. He was a crusader, and became the guardian of "Jacob's well.
sir john
The old title for a country parson: as Sir John of Wrotham, mentioned by Shakespeare.
Sir John Fastolf
The English repulsed the onset, using barrels of herrings, which were among the supplies, as a defence; hence the name.
Sir John Hawkwood
One of the Black Prince's knights, and immortalized in Italian history as Giovanni Acuti Cavaliero.
sir loin
The sur, or upper loin.
Sir Ralph
I wonder, wench, how I thy name might know.
sir reverence
Human excrement, a t--d.
Sir Roger de Coverley
The simple, good, and altogether delightful country squire created by Steele as the chief character in the club that was supposed to write for the Spectator. He was developed by Addison, and it is to the latter that we are indebted for this portrait of a simple English gentleman. He has left his name to a popular country dance which, he tells us, was invented by his great-grandfather. Coverley is intended for Cowley, near Oxford.
Sir Theodore Martin
They first appeared in Taifs, Fraser's, and Blackwood*s Magazines in the 'forties, and were published m volume form in 1885.
Sir Thomas Lucy
According to Feme's Blazon of Gentry (1586) the arms of the Lucy family were "Gules, three lucies hariant, argent," but Dugdale (Warwickshire, 1656) gives a repre- sentation of a quartering of the Lucy arms where the "dozen white luces" are shown.
Sir Thomas More
Rabelais, in his Panta- l, introduces Utopia and "the great city
Sir THOS
BROWNE: Religlo Medici, i, 19. There is a bituminous, or asphalt, lake in Trinidad.
sir timothy
One who, from a desire of being the head of the company, pays the reckoning, or, as the term is, stands squire. See SQUIRE.
sir walter scott
A pot,—generally of beer.
Sir William St
Loe, Captain of Queen Elizabeth's Guard; and lastly, George, sixth
siree
Sir.
siren song
An attractive but potentially dangerous or disastrous temptation
siren suit
A one-piece garment, on the lines of a boiler suit, sometimes worn in London during the bombing raids of World War II. It is so named from its being slipped on over the night clothes at the first moan of the siren.
sirretch
Cherries. Very often SIRRETCHES.
siserara
A hard blow.—Suffolk. Many derive this term from the story of Sisera in the Old Testament, but it is probably a corruption of CERTIORARI, a Chancery writ reciting a complaint of hard usage.
sit back
Relax and wait for something to happen
sit crooked and talk straight
Act dishonestly but speak truthfully
sit in
Attend a meeting or class as an observer
sit in for
to substitute for someone, typically temporarily
sit in with
Participate in a meeting or activity as a guest or observer
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